1000s stage pro-democracy demo in Bahrain

Thousands of anti-regime protesters have held a demonstration in northeastern Bahrain, calling for the democratization of the Persian Gulf country.

The pro-democracy demonstration, dubbed People’s Cause, was held in the village of Sitra on Friday.

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The protest had been organized by the Bahraini opposition bloc al-Wefaq National Islamic Society.

The participants called on Bahraini authorities to stop suppressing Shia Muslims and denying their rights. They also slammed the ruling Al Khalifa regime for its crackdown on anti-regime protests, demanding freedom of the country’s political prisoners.

Since mid-February 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have staged numerous demonstrations in the streets of the country, calling for the Al Khalifa royal family to relinquish power.

On March 14, 2011, troops from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates invaded the country to assist the Bahraini government in its crackdown on the peaceful protesters.

According to local sources, scores of people have been killed and hundreds arrested.

Physicians for Human Rights says doctors and nurses have been detained, tortured, or disappeared because they have "evidence of atrocities committed by the authorities, security forces, and riot police" in the crackdown on anti-government protesters.